FMU to host ITA Regional in Sumter

SUMTER, S.C. – The Francis Marion
University men’s and women’s tennis programs will serve
as the host for the 2010 USTA/ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis
Association) Southeast Regional Championships, Friday through
Monday (Sept. 24-27) at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter.

Admission is free. Action will begin with doubles play on
Friday at noon. This is the second year in a row, FMU has
served as the host.

The ITA Regional Championships, currently sponsored by the USTA,
date back to 1981 and for nearly two decades were also known as the
Rolex Regional Championships. The ITA Regional Championships
feature the top men's and women's players from each of the ITA's
regions. All in all, 8,000 varsity tennis players from 600 schools
will participate in the USTA/ITA Regional Championships.

Twenty-four men’s programs and 27 women’s programs
are expected to send participants to the Southeast Regional.

The Small College (NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and
Junior/Community College) singles and doubles champions from the
USTA/ITA Regional Championships will advance to the USTA/ITA
National Small College Championships, held October 14-17 at the
Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. The USTA/ITA
National Small College Championships are comprised of the eight
regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions
II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges.

The singles and doubles champions at each divisional level will
then compete to become the overall “Super Bowl”
champions. The "Super Bowl" champions earn wild cards into the
USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships with the
opportunity to win the culminating event held at the USTA-Billie
Jean King National Tennis Center.

The most unique element of the USTA/ITA Intercollegiate
Championships program is the fact that all levels of varsity
college tennis (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and
Junior/Community College) are competing in one comprehensive event,
and any ITA varsity student-athlete has the opportunity to play and
win at the prestigious USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis
Center.